Sense of Deception Read Online Free PDF Page A

“What’re you gonna do with your night off?” The image of an impromptu poker game and a cloud of cigar smoke blossomed in my mind’s eye.
    Dutch held me tighter, folding my head back into his chest. “I’m gonna miss my wife,” he said. “Lots.”
    â€œGood answer, cowboy. You been saving that one up?”
    He chuckled. “No. It just came to me. But not bad for one off the cuff, huh?”
    â€œI’d give it more brownie points if I didn’t know that invites for an impromptu poker game have already been sent out.”
    Dutch stiffened and I knew I had him. At that moment his phone buzzed from his back pocket and he stiffened again. “That’ll be Oscar,” I said, my radar homing in on the message as well as if it’d come to me directly. “He can make it.”
    Dutch’s chest shook again with quiet laughter. “I can’t get away with anything around you, can I?”
    â€œNope,” I said, tilting my head back to stare up into his gorgeous midnight blues. “And don’t you forget it.”
    He stroked my cheek and then his good humor seemed to leave him and he got all serious on me. “You gonna be okay in here, Edgar?”
    â€œI’ll be fine,” I assured him. “I even have a nice cellmate. She gave me a Twix.”
    He cocked his head. “Only one cellmate? I figured county would put at least four to a cell.”
    â€œShe was supposed to have a cell all to herself, but solitary’s all booked up and I guess they’re really overcrowded in here.”
    My hubby’s brow shot up. “Why is she supposed to have a cell all to herself?”
    I shrugged again. “She’s on death row and they don’t like those guys to mix with the general population, I guess.”
    Dutch gripped me by the shoulders. “What the hell do you mean they put you in the same cell with a death row inmate?” And then he looked to the door, ready to hurtle through it and cause a big scene.
    â€œHey,” I said, grabbing his arms in return. “It’s okay, Dutch. She’s cool. I swear.”
    â€œAbby,” he said, his voice very stern, “you don’t understand. The reason they don’t mix death row inmates with the general population is because they have nothing left to lose. They can kill without fear of retribution because there’s no stick left to hold over their heads.”
    â€œYeah, but I swear, she’s cool. We had a good chat and she’s really nice.”
    And then Dutch blinked and if it was possible, he appeared even more alarmed. “You haven’t told her that you work for us, have you?”
    â€œNo,” I said quickly. And yeah, you probably noticed that was one of those not-quite-a-lie but not-quite-the-truth statements again.
    He narrowed his eyes. “You’re sure?”
    I held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
    â€œOkay, well, don’t. The last thing I need is for you to get your ass kicked while I’m having the guys over for a poker game.”
    I grinned. “True dat, pal. I’d
definitely
hold that over your head for the rest of your life.”
    He let go of my arms but hugged me to him again. “Please be careful, okay?”
    â€œI will, honey. I promise.”
    *   *   *
    A fter Dutch and I said our good-byes, I was handcuffed and led back to the cell I shared with Skylar. When I got there, it was empty and Stern Eyes informed me that I’d missed the call to dinner. She dumped me at the door without offering to take me down to the cafeteria, and I understood pretty quick that I was being punished for the way that Gaston had ordered her around.
    â€œBitch,” I muttered after the cell door closed and Stern Eyes had walked away. My stomach grumbled to let me know that it would also be contributing to the swear jar quarter collection. After listening to an hour of